Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn has dumped 8.5 million shares -- two thirds of his total stake -- in struggling auto supplier Lear (NYSE: LEA). Icahn Partners' senior managing director Vincent Intrieri resigned from the board, and explained that the sale was done to allow the firm to realize a tax loss. He also claims to be confident in the company's ability to remain viable in spite of the troubles facing the industry.Yeah, okay. Icahn and Intrieri are probably just saying that to avoid leaving the company with a slap to the face (or a kick in the groin, as the case may be), given that the company's precarious capital position makes it extremely dependent on market confidence.
Here's why I don't buy it: Icahn still has a significant stake in the company -- a little less than 5% compared to 16% prior to the sale -- so, if he really believed in the company's prospects, why would he give up the board seat?
Icahn's taking a huge hit on Lear, but he should thank the company's other shareholders for preventing something that could have been a lot worse. Last year they rejected his offer to take the company private for $2.9 billion. The market cap now sits below $160 million.
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